Fire escape



H. FISHER FIRE ESCAPE July 2', 1963 Filed June 25, 1962 I N VEN TOR. fiaeeeer flu/6e M M United States Patent f 3,095,946 FHZE ESCAPE Herbert Fisher, 160 Beach 139th St, Belle Harbor, NY. Filed June 25, 1962, Ser. No. 204,891 4 Claims. (Cl. 182--43) This invention relates generally to fire escapes which employ vertically movable, endless chains. The invention is particularly related to means for ejecting the platforms employed in such fire escapes.

Fire escapes of the kind noted typically use a pair of sprockets for supporting and moving one or more endless chains which are mounted adjacent to the roof or win dows of the building which they serve. Persons using such fire escapes mount supporting members, such as platforms, which are carried by the endless chains and disposable in the vicinity of the roof or windows. These platforms are then lowerable so as to permit transportation of their users to the ground or other places of safety. At the end of their descent, the platforms are typically capable of further movement on the chains so as to ascend to the topmost position thereof and then become available for reuse outside of the roof or windows previously served.

However, the employment of platforms in this manner entails a number of problems. Thus, when the platforms are raised in the manner previously noted, it is essential to avoid interference with the side of the building. With this end in view, a conventional solution consists of making provision for pivotable or defiectable platforms which, when ascending, will automatically assume positions wherein they will not touch the building. Such a solution is complex and expensive.

Beyond this, however, the ascendible platforms raise the possibility that undesirable persons, such as thieves, may use them for unauthorized entry of the building. This problem has made necessary the erection of complex structures which are intended .to make the ascending platforms inaccessible. Such structures have met with varying degrees of success and inevitably add to the cost of the installation.

It is an object of the present invention to solve these problems by providing means for automatically ejecting each platform from its associated chain members as it completes its vertical descent.

Another object of the invention is to permit rapid and easy positioning of the platforms from within the building, or from its roof, as their use becomes necessary.

Another object of the invention is to provide an inexpensive, chain type fire escape, which will not interfere with the aesthetic appearance of the building with which it is used.

Another object of the invention is to provide a chain type fire escape adapted to using a series of portable platforms which may be stored by their users in any desired quantity.

Another object of the invention is to provide a chain type fire escape of simple design and having a minimum of parts.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description as read in connection with the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a front elevational view of a form of the invention;

FIGURE 2 is a cross-sectional view taken about the line 22 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is an elevational view taken about the line 3-3 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary, elevational view showing the platform employed in the said form of the invention,

3,095,946 Patented July 2, 1963 ice 2 said platform being engaged with the ejecting means employed in this form of the invention.

Similar numerals are employed to indicate similar parts throughout the various views.

In the form of the invention depicted in FIGURES 1 through 4, roller chains are employed. This form of the invention is primarily adapted for use with two-story buildings, and contemplates that the platforms may be initially engaged only at a certain portion of the vertically movable chains. This form or" the invention has the advantage of great stability and strength during its operation. These features may be more clearly understood from the following discussion.

Thus, as may be seen in FIGURE 1, this form of the invention is disposed adjacent to a building 60 having one or more vertically aligned windows 61. The said form of the invention makes use of an upper and lower sprocket 62, 63, the upper sprocket 62 being engaged with a suitable escapement mechanism, such as a deadbeat escapement, generally designated :by the numeral 64, thereby limiting the speed of rotation of the upper sprocket 62 and hence, the rate of descent of the platforms 65 supported by the chain member 66 carried by said sprockets 62, 63. An inclined chute 67 is also disposed at ground level for the purpose of receiving the platforms 65 in the manner hereinafter described.

The chain member 66 comprises only one endless chain in the form of a roller chain whose plane is parallel to the wall of the building 60* upon which the windows 61 are located. A pair of vertical tracks 69 are supported by suitable brackets 70, 71 affixed to the building 60. Each of the tracks 69 has a U-shaped conformation and is adapted to receive two pairs of vertically aligned rollers 72 which are journalled upon upper and lower horizontal shafts 73, 74 projecting from a block or housing 75 disposed between the tracks 69.

This arrangement may be best observed from an examination of FIGURES 1, 2 and 3 of the drawings. As may be seen in these figures, the upper and lower pairs of rollers 72 are vertically aligned upon the block or housing 75 and are contactab-le with the flanges 76 of the tracks 69, thereby insuring a continuous vertical disposition of the block or housing 75 during the maintenance of such contact.

The block or housing 75 is provided with a horizontal tongue 77 which is disposed intermediately of the upper and lower rollers 72, and projects between the tracks 69 to support a horizontal plate 79 which forms part of the platform 65. This platform 65 may be provided with a suitable railing 80, as desired.

It will be seen from the foregoing that the roller-andbl-ock assembly provides a very stable and safe support for the platform 65. However, since the tracks 69 are continuous, the roller and block assembly may only be engaged with the tracks 69 at their upper ends and may be disengaged or ejected therefrom only at their lower ends. The continuity of the tracks 69 assures safety and stability of each said platform 65.

The block and roller assembly makes use of a pair of horizontal fingers for engagement with the chain 66. Thus, as may be seen in FIGURES l, 2 and 3, a pair of vertically aligned, parallel fingers 85, 86 depend from the block or housing 75 and are removably received within the links of the chain 66. These fingers 85, 86 are engageable with the chain 66 at the same time as the block and roller assembly is disposable within the top portion of the tracks 69; and said fingers 85, 86 are successively ejectable by the teeth 87 of the lower sprocket 63 as they mate with those links of the chain 66 which carry the fingers 85, 86. Such ejectment inclines the platform 65 so that the fingers 85, 86 are disposed successively upon the chute 67 from whence it will automatically descend by force of gravity to ground level 88. Passengers using the platform will be permitted to descend therefrom prior to suchejectment, said passengers being provided with a suitable ramp or other exit means (not shown) in the vicinity of the'lower portion of the chain 66.

It will also be noted that the ascendible portion of the chain 66 is not located in the vicinity of the windows 61 and hence, here again, unauthorized persons will not be able to gain access to such windows 61 by mounting the platforms65 upon the ascendible portion of the chain 66. Moreover, since there are no tracks disposed adjacent to the ascendible portion of the chain 66, there is no facility for receiving and supporting the "block and roller assemblies upon which the platforms depend. Hence, for this reason also, the ascendible portion of the chain 66 is unsuited for gaining entry to the building 60 by way of such platforms.

It will be seen that the form of the invention described above achieves its objects in an ingenious and simple manner which permits of operation by unskilled persons and in a manner consistent with safety and rapid exit from the buildings with which they are used. The sprocket wheels and escapement mechanism employed in the described form of the invention may be covered by suitable housings (not shown), thereby avoiding any undesired interference with the aesthetic appearance of the building 60.

Beyond these advantages, it will be noted that the simplicity of construction and resultant economy of the platforms employed permit of their storage in any convenient number by the occupants of the building with which the Vfire escapes are used.

The embodiment of the invention illustrated and .described hereinabove has been selected for the purpose of clearly setting forth the principles involved. It will be apparent, however, that the present invention is susceptible to being modified in respect to details of construction, combination and arrangement of parts which may be resorted to without departure from the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

I claim:

1. In a fire escape disposed adjacent to the wall of a building and having at least one endless chain engaged with upper and lower sprockets, and means for limiting the speed of rotation of said upper sprocket, the combination comprising: a platform including supporting means removably engaged with said endless chain; said platform being vertically displaceable by said chain; said supporting means being disposed in contact with a vertical track during vertical displacement of said platform; said supporting means being ejectable from said chain by the teeth of said lower sprocket; and means disposed in the vicinity of said lower sprocket and adapted to receive said platform upon ejectment of its supporting means by the teeth of said lower sprocket.

2. In a device according to claim 1, the plane of said endless chain being perpendicular to said Wall of a building; the said building wall obstructing engagement of said platform-supporting means with the innermost portion of said endless chain.

3. In a tire escape disposed adjacent to the wall of a building and having an endless chain engaged with upper and lower sprockets, and means for limiting the speed of rotation of said upper sprocket, the combination comprising: a platform including a horizontal passengercarrying plate provided with a supporting tongue depending from a vertical block; said platform being vertically displaceable by said chain; an upper and lower pair of rollers supported by said block and in contact with a vertical track during vertical displacement of said platform; a pair of parallel fingers depending from said block and removably engaged with the links of said chain; said fingers being successively ejectaible from the links of said chain by the teeth of said lower sprocket; and an inclined chute disposed in the vicinity of said lower sprocket and adapted to receive said platform upon ejectment of said fingers by the teeth of said lower sprocket.

4. In a fire escape disposed adjacent to the wall of a building and having an endless chain engaged with upper and lower sprockets, and means for limiting the speed of rotation of said upper sprocket, the combination comprising: a platform disposable in the vicinity of a plurality of vertically aligned windows provided in said wall; said platform including a horizontal passenger-carrying plate provided with a supporting tongue depending from a vertical block; said platform being vertically displaceable by said chain; the plane of said chain being parallel to said wall; an upper and lower pair of rollers supported by said block and in contact with a vertical track during vertical displacement of said platform; said vertical track including a pair of Ushaped members housing said block and rollers; said vertical track being supported by said wall; a pair of parallel fingers depending from said block and removably engageable with the links of said chain; said fingers being successively ejectable from the links of said .chain by the teeth of said lower sprocket; and an inclined References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Hubbard Oct. 14, 1884 Iankovits Nov. 16, 1915 

4. IN A FIRE ESCAPE DISPOSED ADJACENT TO THE WALL OF A BUILDING AND HAVING AN ENDLESS CHAIN ENGAGED WITH UPPER AND LOWER SPROCKETS, AND MEANS FOR LIMITING THE SPEED OF ROTATION OF SAID UPPER SPROCKET, THE COMBINATION COMPRISING: A PLATFORM DISPOSAL IN THE VICINITY OF A PLURALITY OF VERTICALLY ALIGNED WINDOWS PROVIDED IN SAID WALLS; SAID PLATFORM INCLUDING A HORIZONTAL PASSENGER-CARRYING PLATE PROVIDED WITH A SUPPORTING TONGUE DEPENDING FROM A VERTICAL BLOCK; SAID PLATFORM BEING VERTICALLY DISPLACEABLE BY SAID CHAIN; THE PLANE OF SAID CHAIN BEING PARALLEL TO SAID WALL; AN UPPER AND LOWER PAIR OF ROLLERS SUPPORTED BY SAID BLOCK AND IN CONTACT WITH A VERTICAL TRACK DURING VERTICAL DISPLACEMENT OF SAID PLATFORM; SAID VERTICAL TRACK INCLUDING A PAIR OF U-SHAPED MEMBERS HOUSING SAID BLOCK AND ROLLERS; SAID VERTICAL TRACK BEING SUPPORTED BY SAID WALL; A PAIR OF PARALLEL FINGERS DEPENDING FROM SAID BLOCK AND REMOVABLY ENGAGEABLE WITH THE LINKS OF SAID CHAIN; SAID FINGERS BEING SUCCESSIVELY EJECTABLE FROM THE LINKS OF SAID CHAIN BY THE TEETH OF SAID LOWER SPROCKET; AN INCLINED CHUTE DISPOSED IN THE VICINITY OF SAID LOWER SPROCKET AND ADAPTED TO RECEIVE SAID PLATFORM UPON EJECTMENT OF SAID FINGERS BY THE SAID LOWER SPROCKET. 